h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I kick myself sometimes when I say Madrid with a Spanish pronunciation. ( by accident when I am speaking English... ) It sounds really affected.

Phew. I'm okay with those three.

The pronunciation of 'Milan' that has crept into use by both UK and Spanish commentators is 'MEE-lan' - drives me crazy.

Do you mean 'Madriz', Lanzababy?

Supplementary question for Lanzababy: How do manage to pronounce Spanish words containing a 'B' or a 'V'?

Reference post 53 audio link to dictionary
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?harbin01.wav=harbinger
http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?indict05.wav=indictment

Of course geographical names vary by region.
Milan Michigan is not pronounced like Milan Italy
nor is Charlotte Michigan pronounced like Charlotte South Carolina
( for Milan Michigan first sylable stressed with long I,
(for Charlotte MI second sylable is stressed)
Locals chuckle when some college kid says they work here in Charlotte
giving it the South Carolina pronounciation.

Note Merriam Webster actually gives two different pronounciations for February
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/february

I say 'b' Rudest Elf, I don't think I hear them in my head as 'v's anymore.

As for Madrid, it comes out more like M'drreeth.


I speak Spanish extremely badly.

I say 'b' too, Lanzababy. It's awfully hard to produce a sound midway between the two.

I say Madriz only when I'm bromeando (joshing) - otherwise it's Madrid.

that's bery interesting